Hamas police spokesman Eyad Bouzam had reported an Israeli strike on an apartment building in northern Gaza today.

Israeli soldiers sleep on the ground next to an armoured personnel carrier (APC) outside the Gaza Strip July 15, 2014

The de-escalation period is to lead to detailed ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and end a week of fighting that has killed more than 190 Palestinians and exposed millions of Israelis to rocket fire from Gaza.

Hamas rejected the Egyptian plan and Gaza militants fired at least 35 rockets at Israel by early afternoon today.

Israel accepted the truce plan but said it would hit Gaza hard if Hamas rejects the deal.